Burroughs gets first home dual win under Blanche

The Burroughs wrestling team won its first dual meet in Coach Tyrell Blanche's two-year tenure running the team.The Burros beat Granite Hills in convincing fashion — 53-25 — Tuesday in the Burroughs Barn.“To win a home dual meet, and to win it so convincingly, is pretty good,” Blanche said. ...

"To win a home dual meet, and to win it so convincingly, is pretty good," Blanche said. "Everyone destroyed us last year. We were dead last a season ago. We're not dead last now. We've beaten somebody, so it feels like we're taking a step in the right direction.

"We got the win at home and it was senior night too, which makes it even better."

The Burros' two seniors — Jake Farris and Isaac Perez — both went out with wins. Farris won by getting a tech-fall with 16 seconds left in the second period.

Perez also won in the second period, but his match was much tougher. Perez trailed going into the second period 3-2, but came back to score an escape point to tie the match, a take down to go ahead and closed the deal with pin soon after.

"We have a group of about seven kids who are extremely dedicated," Blanche said. "Jake, Isaac, Ethan (Haddock), Khaleel Snook and Jaelin (Patin). Those kids don't miss practice, their grades are never in question and they are polite young men who have a future in wrestling. I want to make sure those guys are taken care of because they do things the right way."

Snook got a forfeit win, Haddock finished off his opponent with a pin before the half-way point of the first period and Patin had the night off to recover from a grueling fifth-place finish at West Covina.

"This wasn't the best lineup we could come up with, but our numbers have grown enough that we have options," Blanche said. "We were able to sit Jaelin out after finishing fifth in West Covina to give him a break and let him recuperate a bit. We want him prepared for the Desert Sky League finals.

"Brendon (Olsen) stepped in and looked really decent. He's a second-year kid that is learning. The fact that we were able to rest some kids that needed it, while still putting work in is great for our program."

The night got off on the right foot with 120-pound Burroughs wrestler Travis Rivera taking the mat ready to compete. He pinned Donald Williams with 38 seconds remaining in the first period after scoring a take down and a near fall.

"The night started good for us when Travis wrestled well," Blanche said. "It hasn't been an easy year for him. His dad was sitting right next to the mat, watching him. Travis just had good position and got the kid on his back for the win in front of the home crowd.

Page 2 of 2 - "That kid was good and Travis is only a second-year wrestler. To see him go out and do that set the tone for everyone else. Jake (Farris) was next and brought good energy. (Jonathan) Ogilvie is a new guy and he came out with great energy."

Isaiah Ramon and Haddock had back-to-back pins followed by forfeit wins by Snook and Richie Villa that gave Burroughs a 53-9 advantage. With three matches left to go, the Burros were assured the win.

"It's a great feeling to get a win," Blanche said. "I think I'm going to Denny's to celebrate with some raspberry iced teas."

The Burros move on to face Victor Valley at 6 p.m. Thursday in Victorville.